Links to reports on the activity of Mt. St. Helens during its 2004—2006 activity.

2005-08-01

USGS Update 2005-Aug-01 09:10

Potential ash hazards: Wind forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with eruption models, show that any ash clouds that rise above the crater rim today would drift northeastward.

Recent observations: Two more M=3 earthquakes occurred during the past 24 hours—about 6:45 p.m. last evening and 12:15 a.m. this morning. DomeCam pictures show that both were accompanied by rockfalls from the north end of the growing lava dome. The one last evening generated a diffuse ash plume that was visible from the metro area as it drifted over the crater rim.

Growth of the new lava dome inside the crater of Mount St. Helens continues, accompanied by low rates of
seismicity, low emissions of steam and volcanic gases, and minor production of ash. During such eruptions,
episodic changes in the level of activity can occur over days to months. The eruption could also intensify
suddenly or with little warning and produce explosions that cause hazardous conditions within several miles of
the crater and farther downwind. Small lahars could suddenly descend the Toutle River if triggered by heavy rain
or by interaction of hot rocks with snow and ice. These lahars pose a negligible hazard below the Sediment
Retention Structure (SRS) but could pose a hazard along the river channel upstream.

Potential ash hazards to aviation: Under current eruptive conditions, small, short-lived
explosions may produce ash clouds that exceed 30,000 feet in altitude. Ash from such events can travel
100 miles or more downwind.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington continue to monitor the situation
closely and will issue additional updates and changes in alert level as warranted.

My intent with this page is to provide a clearning house for links to the current activity at Mt.St.Helens.
Please send me any links of interest that you may come across, whether for permanent sites or for news reports.
I'm not going to be able to do this all alone and all help will be appreciated.

(Disclaimer I have no association with anyone or any organization, and speak only for myself. Links and
quotes are provided for information only.)

Site Info

Current View

Volcano Advisories

Alert Level 2

Aviation: Orange

With the continued low level of activity, the
USGS Updates
have become repetitious. Only paragraphs that provide new information are included in the postings.
The unchanging paragraphs can be found below.